Israel Protests to Security Council Against British Intention to Ship Arms to Arabs

Aubrey Ebon, head of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations, today submitted a protest to the U.N, Security Council against the announced intention of the British Government to sell arms and ammunition to Arab states despite the fact that the U.N. arms embargo for the Middle East has not been lifted.

Expressing the gratification of the Israeli delegation with the fact that “this intention has in no way been endorsed or supported by the acting U.N. mediator or by any other organ or representatives of the United Nations,” the memorandum presented the following observations of the Israeli Government:

“1. By virtue of its predecessor’s resolutions on the Palestine question the Security Council has undertaken special responsibilities for the maintenance of peace and security in the Middle East. These responsibilities have on several occasions specifically effected the question of arms supply. In the light of these facts and Article 103 of the Charter my government cannot believe that an individual member of the Security Council possesses a unilateral right to modify and establish United Nations policy.

“2. The Arab states, to which the renewal of arms supplies is thus contemplated, have so far refused to comply with the basic principle of the General Assembly’s resolution of December 11th which calls upon the governments concerned to seek agreement by negotiations conducted either with the Conciliation Commission or directly with a view to the final settlement of all questions outstanding between them. Despite this clear injunction the Arab states have so far not agreed even to meet the delegation of Israel under the Commission’s auspices.

“3. In the six months which have elapsed since the General. Assembly’s resolution none of them has made a declaration of willingness to establish relations of peace with Israel. My government sincerely hopes that this attitude will soon change and that the conclusion of agreements in accordance with Paragraph 5 of the aforesaid resolution of the General Assembly will become a serious objective of Arab policy in accordance with the terms of the Charter which clearly defines the duties of member states towards each other. Until such conditions prevail, however, it will be clearly impossible to regard the supply of arms to Arab states as compatible with the purposes and objectives of the Security Council in the Middle East.

“4. My government is deeply convinced that in such circumstances as these the promise of renewed arms supplies to these Arab states may be a blow to the prospects of peace and a gratuitous obstacle to the success of the Lausanne talks at a peculiarly delicate stage.

“5. In taking this view, my government cannot be influenced by the, assurances that the dispatch of these arms is intended to assist Arab governments to maintain their internal security, and not to renew hostilities against Israel. The invasion and warfare launched by Arab states in an attempt to destroy Israel last year were not conducted with armaments supplied specifically for that purpose: my government hopes that the need for direct and unprejudiced negotiations between Israel and the Arab states will be regarded by all other governments as a compelling reason for objectivity and restraint.”